Bears coach Matt Nagy expects both QBs to see playing time in Saturday’s preseason game

LAKE FOREST – Bears coach Matt Nagy is going to try to walk the fine line between giving his starters enough reps in the preseason and giving his young players playing time.

That juggling act will be no more apparent than with the quarterbacks. Andy Dalton and the first-team offense will see playing time when the Bears take on the Miami Dolphins on Saturday at Soldier Field in their first preseason game. Nagy said he doesn’t have a hard-and-fast rule for how many series the first-team might go.

“I think it’s more probably play count,” Nagy said. “Maybe eight-ish, eight to 10, and some guys might be less, and some might be a few more.”

Once Dalton is finished, the stage will be set for Bears fans to have a look at rookie quarterback Justin Fields. It will be the first time fans will be in the stands for a Bears game since the 2019 season. What better way to celebrate than with the rookie 11th overall draft pick?

The health of the offensive line, which was down to only nine players Friday because of injuries, also is going to play a role in how much Dalton and Fields play. Neither presumed starting left tackle Teven Jenkins nor right tackle Germain Ifedi has practiced during training camp.

But whether he’s out there a lot or a little, Fields will see some action Saturday.

“I want him to be able to cut it loose and play without thinking,” Nagy said. “Stay within what we do and the progressions. But just kind of let your personality show on the football field. The other stuff that we critique him on – the tempo in and out of the huddle and all that – that’ll happen on its own. Now we get to truly see what we can do when the lights are on and he’s playing full speed and it’s live.”

The Bears aren’t simulating a regular-season week of practice this week. With the Dolphins in town for back-to-back joint practices Wednesday and Thursday, this week never was going to feel like a normal regular-season week.

It’s about to become crowded at Halas Hall. With 90 players on each team’s roster, there’s going to be lots of players running around the complex. The Bears are excited about the idea of hosting an opponent at Halas Hall, which has five full-sized fields since its renovation was complete in 2019.

The Bears held a light practice Tuesday but are looking forward to going up against somebody other than their own teammates this week.

“Offense and defense, they’re seeing all the same players, the same plays, the same techniques and how you do things,” Nagy said. “It’s a total changeup now. Somebody’s going to have a different move coming off the edge. So that part is great.”

With only three preseason games, hosting an opponent for several practices gives the Bears’ front office and coaching staff more meaningful reps to watch. These reps might be most meaningful to the players who are fighting for a roster spot.

“Having another team coming up here, that’s extremely valuable,” general manager Ryan Pace said when camp opened. “We talk about only having three preseason games, but having another team come in here is going to be valuable for evaluating our own roster and, honestly, their roster, too.”